Justice News

Creston Man Indicted on Child Pornography Charges

ROCKFORD — A Creston man was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury in Rockford on charges of child pornography.

ERIC CANCHOLA, 25, was charged with four counts of transporting child pornography via the internet between March and April 2018, and one count of possessing two iPods, a desktop computer, and two portable hard drives in May 2018 that contained an image of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor and a minor who had not attained 12 years of age.

Each count of transporting child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison, while possessing child pornography carries a maximum of up to 20 years in prison. Each count carries a $250,000 maximum fine. If Canchola is convicted, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.

The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr. United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Jeffrey S. Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Chicago.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Love.